New Kid on the Block

Posted Nov 11, 2012 - 1:09 PM:
Subject: New Kid on the Block
What am I? I know that I am fiscally right-tipping and socially progressive/libertarian. I believe that everyone should generally be free to express their own opinions. Rawls' statement that everyone should be entitled to their own ideology resonates with me. I believe Locke's "consent of the governed" is ideal. However, I do not necessarily believe in "perfect capitalism" or "perfect socialism." I believe democracy comes before capitalism in which the people should determine what direction we go in by majority vote. If someone is not in the majority, I guess that's their opinion and their issue.

I think a limited free market is great. People and companies are irrational and/or unethical at points but I do believe there are always options to make choices on, even though one might be prevalent. I believe in a mostly non-aggressive foreign policy and that peace talks and negotiations are great.

I believe that in order to change something, the people must first mobilize before government, and I am NOT an anarchist. On economic school tests, I have scored mostly chicago and keynesian school answers.

I know perfectly what American Libertarianism is. My problem is often times they push for many things to be up to private, voluntary entities, which I don't always agree with. Is there anything that fits me?

I can't peg your system of ideas at the moment but the first question I wish ask is what distinguishes government from a private entity? What is wrong with people seeking private solutions to problems? This is not say all problems are best dealt with by private organization but you post seems to think that public action should come first.

Isn't government much more effective when people are already able to deal well with their own concerns?

Posted Nov 11, 2012 - 5:19 PM:
Subject: Political compass and Being specific
Yes I do believe that government is much more effective when people are able to deal with their own concerns. The thing that I have a conscience about is that the government should be able to work with the private sector to help investment during recessions.

While I do believe we have to reduce spending on military and medicare, medicaid, and social security, I do think there could be some infrastructure spending. The problem though is stimulus often gets to the business owners first before people that actually spend it. I think federal and state governments should continue to allocate "rainy day funds."

However, I do not think price controls are helpful to those that supply goods.

Aidan King wrote:Yes I do believe that government is much more effective when people are able to deal with their own concerns. The thing that I have a conscience about is that the government should be able to work with the private sector to help investment during recessions.

While I do believe we have to reduce spending on military and medicare, medicaid, and social security, I do think there could be some infrastructure spending.

One obstacle to this is trade agreements. For instance in federal projects (such as infrastructure projects) the government is not allowed to bias there choice of firm selection based on nationality.

The problem though is stimulus often gets to the business owners first before people that actually spend it.

You could research forms of direct wealth transfers as an alternative. There is Milton Friedman concept of a negative income tax, there are also various forms of wealth taxes such as France's solidarity tax. The subset of libertarianism which addresses wealth inequality through taxation is called geoliberarianism which was inspired by the writings of King George (also see Georgism). Marx rejected King George's writings (thinking it as a band-aid to capitalism) but Marx provided little thought with regard to how to institute an effective alternative. However, Marx's criticism is worth exploring in that we should try to understand the systematic reasons for wealth inequality.

I think federal and state governments should continue to allocate "rainy day funds."

How should the government manage this fund? Whatever the government bought would probably lead to an outcry that the government is interfering with the private economy. Moreover, having knowledge of what the government is going to buy or sell could let one unjustly profit from those transactions.

However, I do not think price controls are helpful to those that supply goods.

How would you prevent price controls from creating shortages?

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